Means for mounting a display device on a price track



Jan. 4, 1966 c. w. LONG 3, MEANS FOR MOUNTING A DISPLAY DEVICE ON A PRICE TRACK Filed Aug. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. LONG ATTORN Y Jan. 4, 1966 c. w. LONG 3,

MEANS FOR MOUNTING A DISPLAY DEVICE ON A PRICE TRACK Filed Aug. 24. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 (l4 l2 t-- -q 34 32 IO 2s 30 24 2e l8 l6 A FIG. -3-

6 (I2 l4 1 fi l0 n 2 S LIG m FIG. --4- INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. LONG gay/M ATTORNE Jan. 4, 1966 v c. w. LONG 3,227,413

MEANS FOR MOUNTING A DISPLAY DEVICE ON A PRICE TRACK Filed Aug. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. LONG BY V 404 @040 ATTORN Y United States Patent 3,227,413 MEANS FOR MQUNTING A DISPLAY DEVICE ON A PRICE TRACK Charles Walter Long, Medf'ord Lakes, NJ. (2600 Haddonfield Road, Pennsauken, NJ.) Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,460 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-223) My invention relates to means for slidably and removably mounting a merchandise display device on a price track of the type used in grocery stores, and other establishments. i

A price track of the type referred to includes an elongated body and upper and lower oppositely facing channels for movably and removably receiving tags indicating the prices of merchandise displayed on shelves adjacent said tracks. A price track may be co-extensive with its adjacent shelf.

In order to advertise an item as being on a special sale, such item is placed in a basket, or other display container which is suspended from the price track.

The object of this invention is to produce improved means for movably and removably mounting a display device of the type referred to on a conventional price track.

Astill further object is to produce an improved mounting means which can be mounted easily and quickly on any vacant space along the track.

A still further object is to produce a mounting device which is unobtrusive.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device mounting means embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view looking in the direction of line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing the first step in applying the display device of FIG. 1 to a price track.

. FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the mounting means secured to the price track and in engaging position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of line 5-5 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view looking in the direction of line 6-6 on FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows a preferred embodirnent of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view looking in the direction of line 8-8 on FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a price track of the type referred to includes an elongated body 10 made of any suitable material and adapted to be mounted adjacent a shelf for supporting the desired merchandise. The upper marginal portion of body 10 is first bent laterally to form an upper, horizontal fiange 12 and then downwardly to form a vertical flange 14 and the lower marginal portion of said body is first bent laterally to form a horizontal flange 16 and then vertically to form flange 18. The upper and lower flanges referred to coact with the adjacent portions of body 10 to form upper and lower channels 20 and 22 for receiving a price tag, not shown. The price tag is formed of flexible material and is of a size to fit between upper and lower horizontal flanges 12 and 16 but is bigger than the space defined by the edges of vertical flanges 14 and 18 whereby, when the price tag 3,22 7,413 Patented Jan. 4,1966

is flexed into a slightly arcuate shape, it can be inserted between the edges of flanges 14 and 18 and whereby, upon being released the tag resumes its flat shape and the upper and lower edges of the tag will more or less snugly fit in channels 20 and 22.

As stated, it is some times desired to mount a display device, such as the basket shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, on a price track of the type above described, so as to display a special item.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, my mounting device includes a bar 24 which is provided with spaced engaging lugs 26 and with one or more spaced arms 28 which are secured to bar 24 by set screw 30. Each arm 28 carries an engaging block 32 which is rigidly secured to arm 28 at 34.

The operation is as follows:

Screw 30 is loosened, or backed oif, and arm 28 is rotated to the position of FIG. 3 in which, the distance between the bottom edges of lugs 26 and the top edges of blocks 32 is less than the distance between the edges of flanges 14 and 18. In this position, the mounting device is inserted into the price track, so that lugs 26 come to rest on lower horizontal flange 16 and are retained in channel 22 by flange 18, FIG. 5.

Arm 30 is then rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and screw 30 is tightened. In this position, blocks 32 will abut upper flange 12 and will be retained in upper channel 20 by flange 14.

Arm 28 can be rotated in counter clockwise direction far enough firmly to engage the device with the price track and to immobilize the mounting device relative to the price track, or it may be rotated far enough to prevent the mounting device from falling out but loosely enough to allow the mounting device to slide relative to the price track. To remove the mounting device screw 30 is loosened enough to permit the device to move from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, I replace arm 28 and block 32 with a single plate 36 which has a vertical slot 38 and the upper marginal portion of which is bent, as at 40, to produce an offset flange 42. Plate 36 is secured to bar 24 by means of a set screw 30. To insert the mounting device of FIGS. 7 and 8 into the price track, screw 30' is loosened and plate 36 is lowered until the distance between the upper edge of flange 42 and the bottom edge of lugs 26 is less than the distance between the edges of flanges 14 and 16'. To secure this mounting device in position, plate 36 is raised until its upper edge abuts horizontal flange 12 and screw 30' is tightened. Again, plate 36 may be raised far enough to immobilize the mounting means or it may be raised only enough to prevent the mounting means from falling out so as to permit movement of the mounting means relative to the track.

As will be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower marginal portions of lugs 26' may be oifset as at 26a more snugly to engage the walls of lower channel 22'. It will be understood that the lower marginal portions of lugs 26 may be also likewise offset.

What I claim is:

1. Mounting means for detachably securing a display device to a price track of the type which includes an elongated body having oppositely facing upper and lower 3 4- channels disposed on the same side of said body, said 2. The mounting means defined in claim 1 in which mounting means including: said channel engaging element includes an arm pivoted a bar insertable in said lower channel, to said bar and a block pivoted to said arm, and means for an upper channel-engaging element pivoted to one side detachably securing said arm to said bar.

of said bar and movable to a first position in which 5 said engaging element is substantially contiguous with References Cited y the Examine! said bar, in which position the combined Width of UNITED STATES PATENTS said bar and said element, measured in a vertical 2 986 627 5/1961 Mamie 240 2 plane, is less than the distance between sald upper 3,162,965 12/1964 Snediker and lower channels, and to a second position in which 10 said element 15 spaced from said bar and engages the CLAUDE A LE ROY, Primary Examiner. upper channel, and

fastening means for securing said element in said sec- 1- F. F A 518 Examm r.

ond position. 

1. MOUNTING MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING A DISPLAY DEVICE TO A PRICE TRACK OF THE TYPE WHICH INCLUDES AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING OPPOSITELY FACING UPPER AND LOWER CHANNELS DISPOSED ON THE SAME SIDE OF SAID BODY, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING: A BAR INSERTABLE IN SAID LOWER CHANNEL, AN UPPER CHANNEL-ENGAGING ELEMENT PIVOTED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID BAR AND MOVABLE TO A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID ENGAGING ELEMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID BAR, IN WHICH POSITION THE COMBINED WIDTH OF SAID BAR AND SAID ELEMENT, MEASURED IN A VERTICAL 